IN line with the announcement by President Donald Ramotar that the next sitting of Parliament will be on Monday, Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Sherlock Isaacs, has given notice to all Members of Parliament (MPs), in addition to the Order Paper, the agenda.
And the Alliance For Change (AFC) sponsored no-confidence motion is included on the agenda of matters up for consideration. The motion, brought in the name of AFC MP, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, reads, “Be it resolved that this National Assembly has no confidence in the Government.” It was seconded by AFC Executive Member and Member of Parliament (MP) Mrs. Cathy Hughes.
As stated in Section 106 (6) of the Constitution: “The Cabinet and President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of the majority of all Members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” This is made even clearer in Section 106 (7), which states: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office, and shall hold an election within three months or such longer period as the National Assembly shall, by resolution supported by no less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly, (approve); and shall resign after a new President takes the oath of office following the election.”
Additionally, Financial Paper No. 1/2014, a Statement of Excess (Current and Capital Estimates), totaling $4.6M for the period ended 16th June, 2014 is also expected to be considered.
The Education Bill 2014, Land Surveyors Bill 2014 and the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2014 are up for a second reading.
Among the Bills scheduled for a first reading are: Food Safety Bill 2014 and the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) (Amendment) Bill 2014.
ORAL QUESTIONS
Some 19 oral questions, without notice, are on the agenda related to several issues, including expenditure incurred by the Office of the President; advances made from the contingencies fund; the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry; the University of Guyana student loan fund; work permits issued to foreign nationals; land allocation to private home developers and the public-private turnkey initiative, among others.
REPORTS
Several reports are also expected to be laid in the House on Monday, including the report of the Auditor General to the National Assembly on the Public Accounts of Guyana and on the Accounts of Ministries, Departments and Regions for the fiscal year ended 31st December, 2013; the Mid-Year report on the economic performance of the country; the Annual Report of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission for the year 2013; the Annual Report of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission for the year 2013; the Annual Report of the Guyana Gold Board for the year 2012; the Annual Report of the Environmental Protection Agency for the year 2013; the Annual Reports of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission for the years 2004 and 2006; the Annual Report of the Guyana Forestry Commission for the year 2013; and the Audited Financial Statements of the Environmental Protection Agency for the years ended 31st December, 2012 and 2013, among others.
Also the seventh report of the Committee on Appointments in relation to the Appointment of Members of the Women and Gender Equality Commission is to be laid in the House.
The appointment of members for the Rights of the Child Commission (ROC) and the Women and Gender Equality Commission is also on the agenda for consideration.
The House has not met since it came out of recess on October 10 and prior to going into its annual two-month recess on August 10, there had been no sitting since July 10.